Ocean View aquatics star Joseph Stanbridge shows promising talents
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Although small, Ocean View High School鈥檚 (OVHS) swim program is mighty and has several star swimmers that have promising futures. Amongst them is sophomore Joseph Stanbridge.
Not only is Joseph on the swim team, but he鈥檚 also who a committed varsity water polo player and contributed to his team鈥檚 success in making it to CIF finals this past fall. Even though both of his high school swim seasons thus far have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Joseph continued putting in the work and rose in the rankings of the Goldenwest league.
I got the chance to speak with Ocean View鈥檚 head swim coach, Alec Raley, regarding this promising athlete. Coach Raley has over 20 years of experience and has developed multiple Junior Olympic champions.
鈥淛oseph is becoming stronger every day,鈥� Raley observes, 鈥淗e has grown so much as a leader on the team鈥� a little on the shy side last year, but he is coming into his personality and is starting to become someone that everyone else can look up to.鈥�
Joseph competes in multiple race events, but his favorite is the 500 meter freestyle. His best time is 5 minutes and 30 seconds, and his goal for the 2022 season is to continue improving that. He hopes to earn a medal at the varsity level.
Coach Raley describes Joseph as a 鈥渞eally tall athlete鈥� and has seen him grow both 鈥渓iterally and figuratively.鈥� Raley expects all of his athletes to act with integrity and honor and in the spirit of fun and comradery. He says that Joseph is a swimmer who embodies all of that and more.
The student athlete himself has enjoyed the least two years being on the team under Raley鈥檚 leadership and says that he is a 鈥済reat coach and fun to be around.鈥� Joseph enjoys the time between the chaotic races to hang out with his friends and play games together. Being so young, he remains unsure of what the future will hold but hopes to play water polo in college and continue growing as a swimmer. Joseph Stanbridge is described by his teammates as a great guy to be around, and OVHS鈥� aquatic program is grateful for the contributions that he鈥檚 continuing to make.
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